Tag: Sri Lankan Kottu

With a typical metal clashing and banging to the rhythem of deafening fast beat music, making kottu is a roadside spectale at night in Sri Lanka!

Kottu, literally means cut rotis, originated from the Southern part of India and found its way to Sri Lanka with a delicious interlude. Rather than using a knife to chop rotis into bite-sized pieces, the expert, street-food vendors use two thin metal plates to rhythmically chop them, while giving a little jig.

When the last of daylight dims down, bright white lights dazzle from the foodstalls, while a circle of onlookers watching in amasement how their portions of Kottu are made in minutes, followed by a a rock and roll dance, cling clang of metals, many ingredients being dropped and then dissappered in shreds! Finally, a heap of steaming kottu on a plate is offered and while you are digging a fork between a combination of soft flakes of roti, glistering pieces of meat and shreds of veggies, involuntarily, your legs will dance to the irresistable music aired to the wee hours of night.

We can produce something similar at home even though we don’t have the metal plates or the need of a jig. The packeted frozen Kottu Porottas, available in the freezer section of Asian food stalls, are the best and easiest choice. If you are unable to get that and you have time and patience, these rotis could be made at home and cut them into small squres to make this dish. Interstingly, these rotis are called Hankerchief rotis, considering their thin and flat appearance. However, they are locally known as Godamba roti.

Food Humour

Why did Miss Tomato blush?
Because, she saw Mr Salad dressing!What did olives say to feta cheese in the Greek salad?
Lettuce get together!Waiter, waiter! There is a mosquito in my soup.
Don't worry madam, mosquitoes have very small appetites.Vegetarian: I've lived on nothing but vegetables for years.Bored Grandma:That's nothing; I lived on Earth all my life, dear.What's cannibal's favourite food?
Baked Beings, I suppose.